Ampeg PF-500 vs Hartke LH500??

[Alex Huddleston]

Sorry to create yet another Ampeg Pf-500 thread, but my old Peavey Mark IV is starting to die and I'm about to order an upgrade for it tonight. I've been looking at heads in around the $400 range and I'm somewhat torn between the Ampeg and the Hartke LH500.

I play out of an Ampeg BSE410h that's rated at 8ohms, 200W constant 400 peak. I also play in a thrash metal band.
We are getting fairly big in the local scene and we're starting to open for some of the bigger bands coming through (Death Angel, Overkill). I'm looking for something that's going to sound good and is reliable. Volume isn't too much of an issue as the majority of the shows we play I have PA support and I haven't had any trouble playing basement/outdoor gigs with my current head which is rated at a much lower power.

Would either of these heads be too much for the cab if I keep the volume on the conservative side? Both are rated at 350W through 8ohm, both under peak handling of the cab.

Tone wise I'm fine with anywhere from clean to gritty, as long as it sounds good and has some mid range to help cut through the wall of distorted guitar. I add a tiny bit of chorus to my sound to add some color and I suppose I could eventually get a sansamp BDDI if need be. weight really isn't an issue. Let me know your opinions on these amps

 

[molteni]

i'd also look at a Carvin bx500, tough to beat for the price and decent tone too.

 

[Buddybones]

I'm in the market for a new head also. I was only able to a/b a pf350, micro vr, and lh500. And the lh500 def had a warmer and fuller sound. Both me and my buddy who is also bassist felt so. I don't know if the pf500 is any warmer. I really wanted to like the light weight stuff. But I'm leaning towards lh500

 

[onosson]

I've owned an LH500 and was looking at the PF500 as a replacement. Id choose the Hartke for sure. It's got an unusual eq section, you'll find that the mid knob is more like a volume control, and you need to push it pretty far, like 2-3:00. Great tone, but I wanted something small and light so went to a MarkBass amp.

 

[Buddybones]

I really liked the simple eq. I don't want to mess with a bunch of knobs. I felt it sounded awesome with both fretted and fretless I tried it with.

 

[TC.65]

I've never played the Ampeg pf500 but have seen some youtube clips and liked what I heard. On another note I do own the Lh500 and I am very impressed with this amp. It has a clean warm tone with lots of punch. I bought it with a Hydrive 410 cab used with intentions of selling the LH500 cause I was really only looking for the cab, but I like it so much I can't make myself sell it.